Women of the 1920’s changed immensely from the decade before. They were more rebellious, free-spirited, and risk taking. Women were characterized by their fashion, hairstyles, and make up. They also took up new jobs, and stayed in school longer.
Fashion
Kevin
Women of the 1920's were changing from their previous stiff, controlled selves, and their fashion changed with them. Women in general wore more comfortable clothing, such as dresses just below the knees, and loose shirts. They also wore necklaces and large many pocketed coats. Young women also had hats shaped like bells that fit right around their short hair, and had beads and flowers sewn into them. though this was the main look of flappers of the time, some went even further as to wear even shorter dresses and more revealing clothing. All in all, women of the 1920's' clothing reflected their attitude, which was loose, free spirited, and bright.
New Careers
Kyle
The American Federation of Labor didn’t want women competing with men for jobs. The customs of society made people think that women weren’t capable of demanding careers. Women continued to have low wages and were paid less than men for the same job. They mainly held ‘feminine’ occupations like nursing and teaching. In the 1920’s 25% of women over the age of 16 worked. During this time the number of women working rose by 50%. Thirty % of them were involved in clerical and sale work, a respectable job. Mainly white women born in the US had these jobs. The number of female physicians, surgeons, and dentists decreased as more women began working. Employment did more than just give women money, it confirmed their middle-class status. Even if they earned less than a skilled factory woman as a teacher, librarian, or nurse, they were better accepted in society. Women were able to get a better education and got to college. Many became typists because of their knowledge of grammar, capitalization, and punctuation. Women who didn’t receive a high school diploma became factory workers, domestic service workers, shop clerks, cashiers, or switchboard operators. Many thought the perfect way to prepare a woman for marriage was for them to be a secretary. Being a secretary taught them endurance, modesty, and obedience. Some working mothers earned enough money to afford a nanny, but many mothers didn’t work.
Hair and makeup in the 1920's caused a great controversey. "The Bob" was extremely in style and showed off womens "rebellious" sides. Although women loved their new freedom, men were very unhappy. Some men even divorced their wives because of the boyish cuts. One women said to the editor of a hair magazine, "“I’ve raised my girls to be women and my boys to be men, but since the advent of this shingle bob, I have to look twice at my own offspring to tell which is which.”
Makeup was even more rebellious than the hairstyles of the Roaring 20's. Women had deep red, plum, or orange lips with a cupids bow shape, thick winged eyeliner, and gray, turquoise, or green eyeshadow. Their eyebrows were usually shaved off and drawn back extremely thin with black eyeliner. Their blush was applied in large amounts and almost never blended. Skin was covered in layers of powder in a very light color. Finally, their nails were painted with a half moon at the cuticle, and the tips were in a French manicure.
Vocab
Clerical- The work of a clerk.
Flappers- A young woman during the 1920's who behaved and dressed in a boldly unconventional manner.
Women of the 1920’s changed immensely from the decade before. They were more rebellious, free-spirited, and risk taking. Women were characterized by their fashion, hairstyles, and make up. They also took up new jobs, and stayed in school longer.
Fashion
Kevin
Women of the 1920's were changing from their previous stiff, controlled selves, and their fashion changed with them. Women in general wore more comfortable clothing, such as dresses just below th
e knees, and loose shirts. They also wore necklaces and large many pocketed coats. Young women also had hats shaped like bells that fit right around their short hair, and had beads and flowers sewn into them. though this was the main look of flappers of the time, some went even further as to wear even shorter dresses and more revealing clothing. All in all, women of the 1920's' clothing reflected their attitude, which was loose, free spirited, and bright.
New Careers
Kyle
The American Federation of Labor didn’t want women competing with men for jobs. The customs of society made people think that women weren’t capable of demanding careers. Women continued to have low wages and were paid less than men for the same job. They mainly held ‘feminine’ occupations like nursing and teaching. In the 1920’s 25% of women over the age of 16 worked. During this time the number of women working rose by 50%.Thirty % of them were involved in clerical and sale work, a respectable job. Mainly white women born in the US had these jobs. The number of female physicians, surgeons, and dentists decreased as more women began working.
Employment did more than just give women money, it confirmed their middle-class status. Even if they earned less than a skilled factory woman as a teacher, librarian, or nurse, they were better accepted in society.
Women were able to get a better education and got to college. Many became typists because of their knowledge of grammar, capitalization, and punctuation. Women who didn’t receive a high school diploma became factory workers, domestic service workers, shop clerks, cashiers, or switchboard operators.
Many thought the perfect way to prepare a woman for marriage was for them to be a secretary. Being a secretary taught them endurance, modesty, and obedience. Some working mothers earned enough money to afford a nanny, but many mothers didn’t work.
For more on 1920s careers for women go to: http://www.ehow.com/info_7747610_jobs-women-1920s.html
Hair and Makeup
Izzy
Hair and makeup in the 1920's caused a great controversey. "The Bob" was extremely in style and showed off womens "rebellious" sides. Although women loved their new freedom, men were very unhappy. Some men even divorced their wives because of the boyish cuts. One women said to the editor of a hair magazine, "“I’ve raised my girls to be women and my boys to be men, but since the advent of this shingle bob, I have to look twice at my own offspring to tell which is which.”
Makeup was even more rebellious than the hairstyles of the Roaring 20's. Women had deep red, plum, or orange lips with a cupids bow shape, thick winged eyeliner, and gray, turquoise, or green eyeshadow. Their eyebrows were usually shaved off and drawn back extremely thin with black eyeliner. Their blush was applied in large amounts and almost never blended. Skin was covered in layers of powder in a very light color. Finally, their nails were painted with a half moon at the cuticle, and the tips were in a French manicure.
Vocab
Clerical- The work of a clerk.
Flappers- A young woman during the 1920's who behaved and dressed in a boldly unconventional manner.
The Bob- A short hairstyle for women.
Citations
"1920's Makeup Guide." 1920's Makeup. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar 2011. http://www.return2style.de/swingstyle/makeup/20amimup.html.
King, Hayley. "Women in the Work Force in ther 1920s." Working Women in the 1920s. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar 2011. http://www.msad54.org/sahs/socialstudies/finely/1920s/1920hk/women.html.
Rosenberg, Jennifer. "Flappers in the Roaring Twenties." about.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar 2011. <http://history1900s.about.com/od/1920s/a/flappers_3.htm>.
Swisher, Clarice. Women of the Roaring Twenties. Farmington Hills, MI: Thomson Gale, 2006. 11- 13, 44. Print.
Warner, Michael. "The Bob." 1920's Peice. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Mar 2011. <http://www.hairarchives.com/private/1920s.htm>.
Pictures
Web. 14 Mar 2011. http://www.infionline.net/~rwhend/Typing.hs.ca1946.jpg.Web. 14 Mar 2011. http://www.perfectlocks.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/20s-short-bob.jpg.
"vintageindie.typepad.com/.../03/05/flapper_1.jpg." Web. 11 March 2011. http://vintageindie.typepad.com/vintage_indie/images/2008/03/05/flapper_1.jpg.